Add a "Contribute" tab to the about page

Description

The path to find out how to contribute is several levels deep in WordPress itself. Right now, you have to click on the W icon, then About WordPress, then the Credits tab, and then scroll down to the bottom of that page to see a micro link in the footer: Want to see your name in lights on this page? Get involved in WordPress.

Also, only Core Contributors are on this list so it gives a false promise of being listed on this page if you contribute which is not the case.

We discussed adding a link in #wordpress-sfd and everyone thought this would be a good idea so that more people could find out how to get started in contribution.

I am new to creating tickets so please let me know if there is any other information you need!

Change History (23)

mt_Suzette: Wouldn't be helpful to point /encourage people to contribute somewhere in WordPress itself? Like in the dashboard? or welcome screen?
[1:55pm] Siobhan: I think there is something on the welcome screen
[1:56pm] Siobhan: Maybe a Contribute link on the menu with the WordPress logo in the admin bar. That's probably one for the community group tho
[1:57pm] DrewAPicture: That would be awesome
[1:57pm] mt_Suzette: I looked on the Welcome Screen, I didn't see anything about how to get started contributing, just a link of where to start
[1:57pm] mt_Suzette: (using WordPress)
[1:57pm] Siobhan: hrm
[1:57pm] Siobhan: Maybe raise a ticket on Trac? Make the suggestion?
[1:58pm] DrewAPicture: It might be on credits page?
[1:58pm] DrewAPicture: At the bottom of the credits tab: Want to see your name in lights on this page? Get involved in WordPress.
[1:58pm] DrewAPicture: Links to http://codex.wordpress.org/Contributing_to_WordPress
[1:59pm] Siobhan: The problem with that is, the credits tab is just core folks
[1:59pm] Siobhan: And we don't want to indicate that people can get there by contributing to any area
[2:01pm] mt_Suzette: I couldn't find the credits page, but I have seen it before
[2:02pm] Siobhan: I can't find it either
[2:03pm] JerrySarcastic: from the dashboard, click on the WordPress icon>About WordPress and then click on the tab Credits
[2:04pm] JerrySarcastic: Easy, am I right?
[2:04pm] Siobhan: are you ever wrong?
[2:04pm] JerrySarcastic: Ask my lady...
[2:04pm] mt_Suzette: Yes, I see it now, but that seems rather hidden
[2:05pm] JerrySarcastic: That's an understatement.
[2:05pm] DrewAPicture: I like the idea of a make.wordpress.org link in the W dropdown though.
[2:05pm] DrewAPicture: Especially if we get a makeover on that page
[2:05pm] Siobhan: yeah, that would be nice
[2:05pm] JerrySarcastic: Esp. if it says something simple, like "Contribute" in teh dropdown
[2:06pm] Siobhan: Alright - that's something we can all approve of
[2:06pm] Siobhan: Someone open a ticket on trace?
[2:06pm] Siobhan: ^trac

Until there is an top-dollar entrance/landing page for contributing to all things WordPress (which I hope comes in 2013)

Working on it currently with @ievolver and @stephanis, hoping to launch v1 sometime in February.

That said, a link from the W is separate from the "only Core Contributors are on this list so it gives a false promise of being listed on this page if you contribute" issue raised, so let's not conflate the two. If someone wants to suggest altering the credits page approach, a new ticket should be created for that.

In the past this idea was not considered ready. @nacin said until there is a "top-dollar entrance/landing page for contributing to all things WordPress" this was a no-go and people agreed. Now that we have ​https://make.wordpress.org/ and it is pretty awesome, I think it's time to re-consider.

I have a patch that adds a "Contribute" tab to the "About" page. It focuses less on contributing to core, and more on other ways to contribute to the project--docs, theme review, accessibility--that are less apparent to those who are new to the idea.

My parch should be considered a draft proposal and while most of its language is lifted from the make site, I'm sure the text will need some revision. That said, I think it's passed time to add this in some form or another and wanted to start the conversation.

@helen Thanks for the feedback. I agree the design could be better, and will try to find some help for that, as I am not a designer. I am also attaching a full screenshot to facilitate discussion.

As far as needing a content direction, I was very intentional in the content. It is designed to show people ways to contribute beyond contributing to core. I don't see any specific feedback in the chat logs on the content itself, but am happy to take feedback and will solicit some feedback in the #outreach Slack channel. The criticism that I would offer myself, looking over it now is that it doesn't link to ​http://central.wordcamp.org/

I think it is important to keep in mind that the people that we are hopping to reach with this new tab are not those who are already engaged. While, all of these links are available on make.wordpress.org, the goal of this tab is to get people who do not know that is a thing to make their first trip there or to consider a WordCamp or a WordPress Meetup for the first time.